I’ve always liked the idea of making a vision board, but I’ve never taken the time to actually create one. Last year, I made a digital vision board: photos of things that inspire me turned into a graphic collage and set as the background image for my laptop. But this year, I wanted to finally use scissors, glue and my own two hands to put together something tangible. I also decided I wanted to share the experience with my family.

On New Year’s Eve, I walked to our local art supply store and bought 10×10 studio canvases, a few paint brushes and sponge brushes. I bought $30 worth of magazines from the news and cigar shop. Then, on New Year’s Day, we gathered around the kitchen table with scissors, paint, watered-down glue, and the simple instructions to look for what you want.

A few hours later, we hung our four completed vision boards on the kitchen wall beside a Christmas gift from my brother and his girlfriend.

(Click to see our vision boards a bit bigger.)

I love them. LOVE.

I love that I began my year of “home” with a family art project that actually ended up on the walls. I love that I can see each of our personalities in our individual boards. I love that we’ve put our hearts and dreams on display for anyone who comes into our home, an act of vulnerability that makes me very proud. But mostly, I love the memory of the four of us cutting and gluing and creating together. It’s one I’ll cherish always.

This man never says no to me. LOVE.

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My drawing was a kind of a vision board. Vision boards do the same thing as my drawing did. They add clarity to your desires, and feeling to your visions. For instance, at the time I did my drawing, I knew I wanted to play in bars and coffeehouses. (I have since left the that circuit, and I’m performing in theatres and at conferences. But in my early twenties, I wanted to play in bars and coffeehouses. I was pretty clear about that!) Taking the time to draw it out, even poorly, made it indelible in my mind.Audra G. Cooley’s most recent post: No last blog posts to return.

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